How easy should it be for a Baptist church to accept a new member.

[unprofitable]

Yes, for these are very simple elements of genuine salvation. A person wanting to join a church as a member would not need advanced training in complex theology, just rudimentary, foundational concepts. True new birth must be established, to separate wheat from tares.

QUOTE

… how the person has changed, why they wanted to get saved, how they came to Christ, what they consider to be the basic doctrines of the faith, and what they love most about Jesus.

END QUOTE

How would Matthew 13:18-23 fit with your method to discern whether someone is saved?

 

[Ascetic X]

How would Matthew 13:18-23 fit with your method to discern whether someone is saved?

Interesting point. This section of scripture is difficult for me to apply to the question of a person being genuinely born again. If we say only the good soil is a truly saved person, then it would require a certain amount of time to see what fruit is being produced.

This scripture refers to how people respond to the gospel over time.

An authentic saved person may want to join a church prior to establishing a long time track record of producing good fruit.

18 Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

 

[unprofitable]

The word “church” in this verse is ekklesia, the called out, not necessarily an individual local church, which met in homes. I view “church” here as meaning the body of Christ.

Does your church baptize anyone who wants to join your church, without asking them any questions, or explaining anything?

It would appear you have not read my other post on this matter or you would have discerned we would examine any individual asking for membership.

We view our church as a body of Christ and it does not matter where we would meet. We had a recent water leak and being a small congregation, met at my house until the repair was completed. We do not view the church as universal or invisible as the catholics

 

[unprofitable]

Interesting point. This section of scripture is difficult for me to apply to the question of a person being genuinely born again. If we say only the good soil is a truly saved person, then it would require a certain amount of time to see what fruit is being produced.

This scripture refers to how people respond to the gospel over time.

An authentic saved person may want to join a church prior to establishing a long time track record of producing good fruit.

18 Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

God told Israel he would prove them to see if they would love him. The verses in Matthew reflect that proving and is evident in the church today. Christ speaking in John 14:23. We believe that there are good works of Christ in the moral sense but how can we keep the ordinances and covenant as good works without being a member of a local assembly. Ephesians 3:10 tell us "...that it might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God." This where right doctrine is to be expounded and good works in the covenant realm may be performed.

 

[unprofitable]

God told Israel he would prove them to see if they would love him. The verses in Matthew reflect that proving and is evident in the church today. Christ speaking in John 14:23. We believe that there are good works of Christ in the moral sense but how can we keep the ordinances and covenant as good works without being a member of a local assembly. Ephesians 3:10 tell us "...that it might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God." This where right doctrine is to be expounded and good works in the covenant realm may be performed.

I agree with your point about trying to discern the intent of the individual asking for membership. A weak member may be have to be admonished several times that they might continue to remain in that body and learn with them. The church may have to be long suffering with that member even as Christ has been long suffering with the membrs of that church that he might present it without spot or blemish. A new individual may have many opinionated ideas that originate from wordly conventions that need to be compared to what truth that church stands for in order for them to become a functional member of that body. So, yes, there needs to be the beginnings of the true foundation of why that person would want to be a part of a church nation that will be hated by the world and the persection that they must endure in order to please its redeemer.

 

[Ascetic X]

God told Israel he would prove them to see if they would love him. The verses in Matthew reflect that proving and is evident in the church today. Christ speaking in John 14:23. We believe that there are good works of Christ in the moral sense but how can we keep the ordinances and covenant as good works without being a member of a local assembly. Ephesians 3:10 tell us "...that it might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God." This where right doctrine is to be expounded and good works in the covenant realm may be performed.

A person can learn right doctrine and perform good works by attending a church, listening to the preaching and teaching — without officially joining it as a member.

I hope your church does not baptize individuals and make them members, with no discernment, no questions, no explanations, no requirements, no code of conduct, no repentance.

Surely a known terrorist, murderer, dope dealer, child abuser, embezzler, glutton, arsonist, heretic, con artist, sorcerer, alcoholic, kidnapper, compulsive liar, adulterer, gambler, war profiteer, etc. would need to seek help to stop and renounce these sins before being allowed to be baptized and become a church member.

 

[unprofitable]

I believe I have clearly answered your questions already. You are kinda getting out there with it.
How can an individual be a functioning member of a body of Christ and not be a member?
Does your organization allow someone who is not a member to observe the Lord's supper?
How can a person vote on the matter of church discipline without being a member of a body of Christ?
How can a person keep these covenant ordinances and without being a member of a body of Christ?
How can a person do good works in the covenant realm and not be a member of a body of Christ?
How can you keep the commandments of Christ, including those called ordinances, and not be a member of a body of Christ?

 

[unprofitable]

I believe I have clearly answered your questions already. You are kinda getting out there with it.
How can an individual be a functioning member of a body of Christ and not be a member?
Does your organization allow someone who is not a member to observe the Lord's supper?
How can a person vote on the matter of church discipline without being a member of a body of Christ?
How can a person keep these covenant ordinances and without being a member of a body of Christ?
How can a person do good works in the covenant realm and not be a member of a body of Christ?
How can you keep the commandments of Christ, including those called ordinances, and not be a member of a body of Christ?

What do you think it means in Ephesians 3:10, ...unto you it IS given to know (revealed) (in context of Mt 13:11) the manifold wisdom of God.
You will never see the kingdom of God and not see the necessity of being a member of a body of Christ,

 

[Salty]

Does your organization allow someone who is not a member to observe the Lord's supper?

Yes, we do, but if a person comes for 3-4 months and takes communion - I would be talking to them about membership.

Just as a church should review a potential member before extending the right hand of fellowship - a prospective member should check out the church before he joins

 

[unprofitable]

What do you think it means in Ephesians 3:10, ...unto you it IS given to know (revealed) (in context of Mt 13:11) the manifold wisdom of God.
You will never see the kingdom of God and not see the necessity of being a member of a body of Christ,

Yes, we do, but if a person comes for 3-4 months and takes communion - I would be talking to them about membership.

Just as a church should review a potential member before extending the right hand of fellowship - a prospective member should check out the church before he joins

The Lord's supper was administered by Christ to the beginnings of the body of Christ to his apostles as members of his church (Mt 16:18)

 

[unprofitable]

got to get ready for church, back to you later

 

[Ascetic X]

The Lord's supper was administered by Christ to the beginnings of the body of Christ to his apostles as members of his church (Mt 16:18)

Correct me if I misinterpret you. It seems you confuse “belonging to the body of Christ” with “being an official member of a local church”.

A born again believer is spiritually a part of the body of Christ by new birth. They can learn correct doctrine and engage in holy behavior without being a member of a local church, but they would certainly search for a local church to attend and eventually join.